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Good to know
Six things about the centipede
LegsNot a hundred legs
A brown centipede has 15 pairs of legs: 30 in all. No centipede has exactly 100.
HunterA speedy hunter
Centipedes are hunters. They run down woodlice, spiders and insects, mostly at night.
ClawsPoison claws
Just behind the head is a pair of claws that inject venom into its prey. They are too weak to hurt a person.
TellCentipede or millipede?
A centipede has one pair of legs on each segment, sticking out sideways. A millipede has two pairs, tucked underneath.
GrowingGrowing more legs
Young brown centipedes hatch with only seven pairs of legs and add more each time they shed their skin.
FlatFlat for a reason
Its flat body lets it slip into narrow cracks under bark and stones.
The real thing
Photos of the centipede
Out and aboutHow to spot one
Lift a stone or a log and watch for a fast, flat, orange-brown animal racing for cover. It will be gone in a second or two.
Lend a handHow to help
Leave stones, logs and leaf litter in place. Centipedes hunt many of the small animals gardeners call pests.
Following youLadybird
Who should follow you?
Bees and hoverflies
Butterflies and moths
Dragonflies and damselflies
Beetles, hoppers and ants
Not insects at all
Snails and spiders aren't insects: a snail is a mollusc, and spiders have eight legs.
Garden birds
Pond animals live on the Pond page: choosing one takes you there.
Pond life
Night garden
Seashore animals live on the Seashore page: choosing one takes you there.
Rock pool life
Woodland animals
Under a log
Meadow life
River animals live on the River page: choosing one takes you there.
River life
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